Wallis Simpson, later Wallis, Duchess of Windsor was an only child born in Pennsylvania. She was named Bessie, after an aunt but is more commonly known as Wallis. Her father died when she was still a baby and she and her mother had to rely on the kindness of a wealthy uncle before moving in with the aunt who had become widowed.
Wallis Simpson and Marriage
Wallis met her first husband Earl Winfield Spencer in 1916. He was a US Navy pilot. They were married within 6 months. However, Wallis would discover that her husband was dependent on alcohol and would sometimes drink before flying. There followed several periods of separation and reunions during which time Wallis followed her husband to various postings, including the Far East. In 1925, the couple were formally separated and divorced two years later.
During the latter part of her failing first marriage, Wallis had begun a relationship with Ernest Aldrich Simpson. Simpson was a shipping executive who was half-American, half English and had served as a captain in the Coldstream Guards. Simpson divorced his first wife to marry Wallis in July 1928. They married and lived in London but Wallis had to return to the United States when her mother became ill. It was during this time that the Wall Street Crash occurred and her mother died penniless. However, she returned to London and to her husband whose business was still afloat.
Wallis Simpson and the King of England
Wallis was introduced to Edward, then Prince of Wales and presented at court – despite her marital history. At the time, Simpson had begun to experience some financial problems and they did not have enough resources to live the lifestyle they had become accustomed to.
Wallis and Edward began a relationship in 1933 though the Prince denied it at the time. Soon Edward became smitten with the sometimes domineering and brash Wallis, who appeared to be unfazed by his regal status. By 1935, they had spent time away on holiday together and their relationship was beginning to impact on his official obligations.
Edwards’s father, King George V died in January 1936 and Edward ascended the throne. Despite the fact that Wallis was still married at the time, they watched the proclamation together from St James’s Palace. Their relationship was not public knowledge at the time but it was unpopular with the government at the time as well as his family. When Wallis’ divorce was finalised in October that year, the news of her royal lover became public and she fled to the South of France. Despite attempts to renounce the relationship, the King declared that he could not serve his country without the woman whom he loved and he abdicated the throne in December 1936. Wallis and Edward married in 1937 and became the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The lived out their married life in the continued scrutiny of the press and government and retired to France.
Following the death of Edward in 1972, Wallis who was now frail both physically and mentally, became more reclusive. She eventually lost the power of speech and died bed ridden in 1986 in Paris. The Duchess was buried next to Edward, the King who had given up his throne to be with her.
Sources:
Mosley, Diana (1980), The Duchess of Windsor, Sidgwick and Jackson
